GAMES

THERE'S MORE TO POOL THAN EIGHT BALL...

Many believe Eight Ball is the only game to play on a pool table, but that couldn't be further from the truth! A pool table with a standard set of balls is like a deck of cards. There is an endless number of games one can play, with new ones being created every year. Some of our club members have even invented new games! Explore some other popular games we often play during club meetings and tournaments below!

Nine Ball

Despite being the most popular game played at the professional level today, Nine Ball Pool can be enjoyed by all! Played only with the balls 1 through 9, Nine Ball is what's known as a rotation game, which means the first ball the cue ball has to hit on every shot must be the lowest numbered ball still on the table. But, that doesn't mean that has to be the ball that's pocketed. As long as the cue ball hits the lowest-numbered ball first, any ball pocketed after is fair game! Players win by pocketing the 9-Ball legally. So even if every ball is left on the table, if you hit the 1-Ball first, then pocket the 9-Ball, you win!

Seven Ball

Another rotation game but with a twist! Played with balls 1 through 7, it is played very similarly to Nine Ball, but instead, players can only sink balls in the pockets on the side of the table they've claimed!

Irish Pool

Think you scratch too much? Great, cause that's what this game is all about... but in reverse. Irish Pool also known as Kiss Pool, or Philadelphia Pool, is a unique game mainly because the cue ball is the one ball you won't be shooting! The rack, which has the cue ball at the apex is broken by shooting the 1-Ball into the cue ball. From then, players can choose any ball they like and shoot it into the cue ball, for it to ricochet off it and into a pocket. Play continues until a player reaches a set amount of points. It is in a sense, a game of scratching in reverse! And those who learn how to scratch... know how to avoid a scratch, which makes Irish Pool a great game for practicing fundamentals!

Fifteen Ball

Also called Sixty One or Points Pool, Fifteen Ball is a fun and simple game. Every ball is worth its number in points, so for instance, the 1-Ball is only one point, but the 15-Ball is fifteen points! Pocket the ball, get the points! The first player to reach a prearranged amount of points, traditionally 61 when only playing with two players/teams, wins the game!

14.1 Continuous

A classic that used to be the most commonly played professional game until Nine Ball took its crown, 14.1 Continuous Pool still has a large, passionate core of players, including many of us in the Billiards Club! 14.1 Continuous, also called Straight Pool, is simple with one caveat. Played with a full rack, players can pocket any ball they like so long as they call the ball and the pocket. If a player's call is successful, they earn a point. Play continues until only one ball is left on the table. Then, the pocketed fourteen balls are re-racked, and the player continues with calling and taking a shot in the hopes of making it while also breaking the rack so they can keep playing. The first player to reach a prearranged number of points wins the game!

Cut-Throat

A great game to know when you've got an odd amount of players! Typically played with three players, but can also be played with five, cut-throat is a fun and energetic game. Each player is assigned a group of balls, for three players there'd be one who gets lows 1-5, mids 6-10, and highs 11-15. A player's assigned balls are like their "lives". The object of Cut-Throat is to be the last player standing with at least one of their balls or lives remaining while eliminating those of their two opponents. If you scratch, one of each of your opponents balls that were pocketed return to the table.

Cribbage Pool

Cribbage pool like it's namesake card game, is about collecting sets of in this case, pocketed pool balls. players earn points by pocketing sets made of two balls who's numbers total 15. The 15 ball itself must be the last cribbage to pocket.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...

For a full list of rules and instructions for these games and more, please see our club's Standard Rules of Play!

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